Health pillow

ABSTRACT

A pillow contains a powder of a poly-element material and a far-infrared emitting material incorporated into the inside of the pillow or applied to the surface of the pillow.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present device relates to a pillow which incorporates certainmaterials directed to promoting the health of the user by releasinganions and far-infrared emissions.

2. General Background and State of the Art

Conventional pillows attempt to promote comfortable sleep by varying theshape, hardness, air permeability, moisture absorption and antibacterialcharacteristics of the materials of the pillow. However, theseconventional pillows are unable to emit beneficial anions andfar-infrared emissions to strengthen the immune system of the user,stabilize moods, improve bodily functions, promote the expelling ofwaste products, improve respiratory function or relieve fatigue.Therefore, a need was perceived for a pillow that promotes comfortablesleep and improves the health of the user.

INVENTION SUMMARY

The present invention is directed to a pillow containing a powdermixture in the materials of the pillow which generates anions andfar-infrared emissions to promote the health of the user. The powdermixture includes at least one poly-element mineral and can also includefar-infrared emitting materials. To disperse the powder mixture withinthe core of the pillow, the pillow core can be immersed in a solution ofthe powder mixture and a resin. Another method to disperse the powdermixture is by spraying or applying a solution of the powder mixture anda resin on the surface of the pillow core. The powder mixture can alsobe mixed into a material that is eventually formed into the foam for thepillow.

Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide apillow that emits anions and far-infrared emissions which improve theblood circulation in the neck and shoulders, serves to strengthen theimmune system, stabilizes moods, improves bodily functions, promotes theexpelling of waste products, improves respiratory function, relievesfatigue and promotes more comfortable sleep. Other and further objectsand advantages will appear hereinafter.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

It is to be understood that the accompanying drawing is provided for thepurpose of illustration only, and it is not intended as a definition ofthe limits of the invention. The drawing schematically illustrates apreferred embodiment of the present invention in which:

FIG. 1 is a sectional view of a pillow employing the preferredembodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

FIG. 1 depicts a sectional view of an exemplary health pillow 10. Theexemplary health pillow 10 includes a body 12 and a covering layer 14.The body 12 is preferably formed from an elastic material such as a lowresilience urethane foam or a synthetic rubber. The covering layer 14 ispreferably made from a fibrous material and may be separate from thebody 12. If the covering layer 14 is separate from the body 12, the body12 is inserted into the covering layer 14. Alternatively, the coveringlayer 14 may be permanently attached to the body 12 by an adhesive.

The health pillow 10 preferably contains a powdered mixture ofpoly-element minerals or far-infrared emitting materials or both, asdescribed below, in the body 12 and/or the covering layer 14. The termpillow core refers individually to the body 12 or the covering layer 14or a combination thereof.

The following compounds are made into powder and used as far-infraredemitting materials: alumina (Al₂O₃), titania (TiO₂), ferrite (Fe₂O₂),chromium oxide (CrO₃), silica (SiO₂), yttria (Y₂O₂), and magnesia (MgO).The far-infrared emissions from these materials can warm the neck andshoulders of a person laying his or her head on the health pillow 10.Consequently, the blood circulation in the capillary blood vessels isimproved, and shoulder stiffness and neck stiffness is alleviated.

The poly-element minerals present in the powdered mixture includesilicon-based materials and other minerals and various elements, whichmay occur naturally as perlite, pitchstone, and tourmaline. Theseminerals radiate electromagnetic waves (feeble energy) with a wavelength of 4 to 14 μm. These electromagnetic waves generated by thepoly-element minerals excite the electrons in the atomic nucleisurrounding the health pillow 10. As a result, water clusters are cut orshortened, decreasing the volume of water and increasing the specificgravity. Furthermore, the free water will attach more readily to theexternal cell membranes of animals and plants. As a result, thepenetration of water, as well as that of Ca²⁺, occurs within the cells,to activate several functions of the cells. Thus, when a person placeshis or her head on the health pillow 10, blood flow and cell activitywill be promoted.

To produce the powdered mixture, a poly-element mineral, such asperlite, pitchstone or tourmaline, may be milled into a powder the sizeof about 1 to 3 μm, for example by the use of a ball mill. Preferably,the poly-element mineral powder is made and used by blending two or moresuch minerals. The powder can be used after it has been milled or,alternatively, the powder can be further purified by mixing it withwater, then heating or pressurizing the solution. Known techniques ofvacuum-freeze drying or spray drying the solution can be used to isolatethe powder. The following chart shows the contents of perlite: TABLE 1silicon dioxide (SiO₂) 71.94% aluminum oxide (Al₂O₃) 14.94% ferrousoxide (Fe₂O₃) 2.54% magnesium oxide (MgO) 0.44% calcium oxide (CaO)2.47% alkali oxide (K₂O + Na₂O) 6.87% manganese oxide (MnO) 0.03%phosphoric anhydride (P₂O₅) 0.14% ignition loss 3.43% drying loss (at110° C.) 0.07% other, titanium Trace

Several methods may be used to incorporate the powdered mixturecontaining the poly-element minerals within the body 12 or the coveringlayer 14. For example, the powder can be mixed with a resin comprising50% polyvinyl chloride (PVC) and 50% dioctyl phthalate, a plasticizer.In addition to the resin and the powdered poly-element minerals, thepowdered mixture can also include powdered far-infrared emittingmaterials. To distribute the powdered mixture within the health pillow10, the body 12 and/or the covering layer 14 can be immersed in asolution of the powdered mixture and resin, or the powdered mixture andresin can be sprayed or applied to the surface of the body 12 and/or thecovering layer 14. In addition, the mixture can be combined with thematerial that creates the foam for the body 12. The percentage of theweight of the powdered mixture to that of the entire health pillow 10 ispreferably about 1 percent to 3 percent, but a range of 0.2 percent to 5percent may be used.

Because the present invention is directed to the incorporation ofpoly-element minerals or far-infrared emitting materials, or both, intothe health pillow 10, the present invention is not constrained by theconstituent materials, the shape, or the manufacturing method of thehealth pillow 10, or the method of incorporation of the powdered mixtureinto the health pillow 10. Furthermore, the health pillow 10 cancomprise a combination of the body 12 and the covering layer 14 or justthe body 12 without a covering layer 14.

In an alternative embodiment, the health pillow 10 may be fitted withmagnets. The magnetic force generated by the magnets may furtherincrease the blood flow in between the head, neck and shoulders andfurther alleviate stiff shoulders and stiff neck. Preferably, permanentmagnets of 400 gauss to 1200 gauss are used with the health pillow 10.

Thus, a pillow has been disclosed which includes materials that emitanions and far-infrared radiation to promote the health of the user.While variations of the illustrated preferred embodiment have been shownand described, it would be apparent to those skilled in the art thatmany more modifications are possible without departing from theinventive concepts herein.

1. A pillow comprising: a pillow core containing a powder of about 0.2%to 5% of the weight of said pillow core, said powder comprising at leastone poly-element mineral selected from the group consisting of perlite,pitchstone and tourmaline, wherein said powder is incorporated into saidpillow core by dissolving said powder into a liquid solution andimmersing said pillow core into said liquid solution.
 2. The pillow ofclaim 1, wherein said powder further comprises at least one far-infraredemitting material selected from the group consisting of alumina (Al₂O₃),titania (TiO₂), ferrite (Fe₂O₂), chromium oxide (CrO₃), silica (SiO₂),yttria (Y₂O₂), and magnesia (MgO).
 3. The pillow of claim 1, whereinsaid pillow core further comprises a magnet.
 4. The pillow of claim 1,said pillow core comprising a covering layer surrounding an inner body.5. A method of improving the health of a person by providing a pillowcore and incorporating into said pillow core a powder of about 0.2% to5% of the weight of said pillow core, said powder comprising at leastone poly-element mineral selected from the group consisting of perlite,pitchstone and tourmaline, wherein said powder is incorporated into saidpillow core by dissolving said powder into a liquid solution andimmersing said pillow core into said liquid solution.
 6. The method ofclaim 5, where said powder further comprises at least one far-infraredemitting material selected from the group consisting of alumina (Al₂O₃),titania (TiO₂), ferrite (Fe₂O₂), chromium oxide (CrO₃), silica (SiO₂),yttria (Y₂O₂), and magnesia (MgO).
 7. (Canceled)
 8. The method of claim5, wherein said powder is incorporated into said pillow core by applyingsaid powder to a surface of said pillow core.
 9. The method of claim 5,wherein said powder is incorporated into said pillow core by mixing saidpowder with the constituent materials used to manufacture said pillowcore.
 10. The method of claim 5, wherein said pillow core includes amagnet.
 11. A pillow for improving the health of a person comprising: apillow core; and a means for emitting anions into an area surroundingsaid pillow core, wherein the means for emitting anions is byincorporating a powder that emits anions into said pillow core bydissolving said powder into a liquid solution and immersing said pillowcore into said liquid solution.
 12. The pillow of claim 11, said pillowfurther comprising a means for emitting far-infrared radiation into anarea surrounding said pillow.